PhD Studentship: Protecting Privacy While Preventing Wandering in People Living with Mild Dementia University of Plymouth in United Kingdom

[3.5-year studentship includes Home tuition fees, bench fee, and a stipend of £21,805 per annum (2026/27 rate). International applicants must cover the difference between Home and International tuition fees, but the international component may be waived for outstanding candidates. No additional funding for NHS Immigration Health Surcharge, visa costs, or flights.]

This PhD studentship at the University of Plymouth offers an exciting opportunity to develop privacy-preserving solutions for people living with mild dementia. The project aims to address the challenge of wandering in dementia by designing innovative technologies that protect both autonomy and dignity. Traditional geofencing tools rely on continuous location tracking, raising significant privacy concerns and often discouraging their use. This research will engage directly with people with mild dementia (PwMD) and their carers to co-design a new concept of wandering safety, focusing on privacy-first approaches.

By leveraging advanced cryptographic and privacy-enhancing technologies such as homomorphic encryption and differential privacy, the project seeks to build secure alternatives to conventional monitoring systems. The solution will be rigorously evaluated for accuracy, privacy, system performance, and real-world acceptance by PwMD and their carers. The research is interdisciplinary, combining computer science, medical science, psychology, information technology, and statistics.

The studentship is funded by EPSRC and UDLA for 3.5 years, covering Home tuition fees, bench fee, and a stipend of £21,805 per annum (2026/27 rate). International applicants must cover the difference between Home and International tuition fees, but the international component may be waived for outstanding candidates. There is no additional funding for NHS Immigration Health Surcharge, visa costs, or flights. The final 6 months of the four-year registration period are self-funded for writing-up.

Applicants should hold a first or upper second class honours degree in a relevant subject, preferably with a Masters qualification. Essential skills include independent and team work, strong communication, mathematical and analytical abilities, programming proficiency, knowledge of privacy-enhancing technologies and/or applied cryptography, practical experience with IoT devices, and enthusiasm for supporting people with mild dementia. Fluency in written and spoken English is required. Applications are welcome from both UK and overseas students, but only Home fee-eligible applicants are fully funded unless the international fee component is waived for exceptional candidates.

To apply, use the online application link and upload all required supporting documents. For informal discussions about the project, contact Dr Hai-Van Dang. For admissions queries, email [email protected]. The application deadline is 24 April 2026 at 12 noon. Shortlisted candidates will be invited for interview soon after. If you do not receive a response within six weeks of the deadline, your application was unsuccessful.